Memorandum-file.



' No. 655,|24; Patentedluly 3|, |900.

w. L. SMITH.

MEMORANDUM FILE.

Ap lication led A r. 20 1899 (No Model.)

U in; Milf!" M ii i .i H, Mm f l l 'n l 'B W`ITNESSES; @MI/5L INVENTOB,

` :i 37g M7 f 3/ v ATTORNEY.

UNITED ASTATES WALTER L. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO -l-IENRY DATE, OF

AUSTIN, ILLINOIS.

MEMORANDUM-FILE.

SPECIFICATIONi'Ormng part of Letters Patent 655,124, dated July 31, 1900.`

Original application filed September 12,1898, Serial No. 690,813. Divided and this application filed April 20, 1899. Serial y No. 713,710. (No model.)

T all whom ir'jnay concern:

Be it known that I, IVALTER LSMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ohicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

have invented 'certain new and useful Improvements in Memorandum-Files, of which the following is a specification, and which are fully illustrated in the'accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

ro This application is filed as a division of my application filed September l2, 1898, Serial No. 690,813. s

My invention relates to that class of files adapted particularly to use in literary work I5 and intended for the orderly recept-ion of memoranda, clippings, dre., and comprising receptacles, preferably substantially in book form, designed to be stored'on shelving side by side.

zo The object of the invention is to provide for the systematic arranging of a series of memorandalreceptacles and to apply thereto a convenient index to the various receptacles forming a single series. AThis object is attained in the construction and arrangement of parts as fully hereinafter described, and

as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing,

I which represents a detail isometric view of the front of a cabinet, showing a plurality of 3o receptacles arranged therein, the index-sheet being shown as mounted and unmounted.

A section of the cabinet comprising uprights and horizontal shelves is shown at X. Each of the receptacles L simulates in appearance a book and is substantially oblong rectangular in form. The exposed end of the receptacle L is preferably rounded, as shown at a. Any desirednumber of the receptacles may constitute a series. The receptacle of 4o each series which is at thev left constitutes the leader of the series, theindexsheet being either mounted upon the right side of this receptacle, as shownon the upper shelf in the drawing, or being insertedloosely at the left of this receptacle, as shown on the second shelf in the drawingr This index may take any desired form, but is divided into a plurality of sections by the horizontal lines N.

Upon the back or exposed end of the leading receptacle of each series there is 5o placed an indicating-mark, as A', forming a general key to the series, this mark being preferably located opposite the upper section of the index. Each of the remaining receptacles of the series is provided upon its exposed end -with an indicating-mark, as shown at B i C D', each of these marks being in alinement with the space or section of the index relating to the receptacle upon which it is placed. For greater convenience of reference cross- 6o lines N are placed upon the exposed ends of the receptacle, so as to register with the divisional lines N of the index.

The appropriate receptacle for any item which it maybe desired to place therein or withdraw therefrom is instantly indicated by withdrawing the index a sufficient distance to expose it to view, the eye following the line 4from the particular section of the index relating to the subject-matter to the particu- 7o lar receptacle. By this means an expansible or iiexible index is secured, as the number of receptacles of any series may be indefinitely varied. While I have shown an index based upon vowels, it is apparent that it may be based upon topics, and a system becomes peculiarly serviceable when such a method of indexing is followed, as the space provided for the index is ample for a plain statement of the topic, though the matter may be of 8o considerable length. The system also admits of changes in the index without detriment to the external appearance of the le, a new index-sheet being substituted and applied to the side of the leading receptacle 8 5 over the one last used, if desired,

The receptacle L may be made of any suit-` able material. I prefer to make it of stout Manila paper and in box foi-mand open across the top edges.

I claim as my invention-n t l. The combination with a pluralityI of re# ceptacles stored side by side and forming a single series, of an index for coperating with such' series and stored side by side with the 95 receptacles, such index being subdivided into sections vertically arranged, each receptacle of the series bearing upon its exposed end an indicating-mark in horizontal alinement with the series bearing upon its'exposed end an one ofthe sections of the index-sheet. indicating-mark in horizontal alinement with 2. The combination with a plurality of `fileone of the sections of the index. receptacles arranged in series side by side, of 5 an index-formed upon the side of one of the Witnesses: A

' receptacles and being subdivided into sec- PAUL CARPENTER, tions vertically arranged, each receptacle of vLOUIS K. GILLSON.

WALTER L. SMITH; 

